Boiler-feeder.



PATBNTED NOV. 21, 1905.

H. S. GORBITT.

BOILER FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1905.

I 2 SHEETS-SHEBT 1.

PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

H. S. GORBITI.

BOILER FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C/ZZZ,

Inventor,

Witnesses Attorneys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BOILER-FEEDER- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed June 29; 1905. Serial N- 267,602.

maintaining a constant level of water in the boiler.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for returning tothe boiler the water of condensation from a steam heating or dryingsystem, and, further, to provide an arrangement of such character thatthe water of condensation will be continuously supplied to the boiler solong as there is suflicient for the purpose; but in the event of failureof the supply the apparatus will be out 01f from the steam-heatingsystem and water will be delivered from an auxiliary tank to the boiler.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafterappear. theinvention consists in the novel construction and arrangementof parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it beingunderstood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, andminor details of the structure may be made without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the ad vantages of the invention.

in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a general perspective view ofa boiler-feeding apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view showing the arrangement of the valvesleading from the initial tanks, one of said valves being open while theother is closed. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the upper portionof one of the initial feed-tanks. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of theupper portion of one of the measuring-tanks, drawn to an enlarged scaleand illustrating the float-valve in shutting off the flow of water whenthe tank is filled. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the lowerportion of one of the verticallymovable filling-tanks, showing thearrangement of its float-controlled lock. Fig. 6 is a detail sectionalview illustrating the low-water alarm. Fig. 7 is a detail view of one ofthe mechanisms for actuating the air-cock.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts throughout the several figures of the drawings;

The boiler A'is of any ordinary type and may be employed for heating orpower, and at a point above the level of the boiler is a supply-tank10,which is preferably kept filled with water from any suitable sourceof supply, the water from this tank being utilized for the filling ofthe boiler in case the supply of condensed steam from the power orheating system is insuflicient. The condensed steam is conducted to atank 11, also arranged above the level of the boiler, and it is notuntil the contents of this tank are exhausted that the water from tank10 is utilized.

At a suitable point below the lowermost pipe of the heating or powersystem is arranged a tank 12, with which communicates a drainage-pipe13, leading from the system and through which the water formed bycondensation of the steam will flow. From the lower end of this tankleads a pipe 14 to the elevated tank 11, a float-valve 15 being employedto cut off the supply when the water becomes low in said tank 12. Thetank 12 is placed at a lower level than the tank 11, and

the water is elevated by the pressure of steam from the power or heatingsystem. To prevent the water issuing from the pipe 14 in a jet whichwould tend to depress the tank 11 by its impact, the end of the pipe 14is propression of the tank by the impact of the jet.

The tank 11 is suspended from one end of an arm 22, that is pivotallymounted on a spindle 23, adapted to suitable bearings in the frame ofthe apparatus, and said spindle serves also as a support for a secondand somewhat longer arm 24, which in connection with a counterpoise 25tends to balance the weight of the tank and its contents. The outer endsof the two arms are connected by an adjustable bolt 26, forming,together with the arms 22 and 24, a beam of such nature that the tankwill be held elevated until it receives a predetermined quantity ofwater, and when this weight is reached the beam will be overbalanced andthe tank will move down quickly and without hesitation, there being nobalancing or oscillation of the beam, as is usually found in devices ofthis general class, the abrupt movement developing sufficient momentumto operate the valves necessary to control the flow of the contents ofthe tank in the direction of the boiler. Thebeam, moreover, is soconstructed that when once overbalanced it will remain with the tank inthe lowest position until all or practically all of the contents of thetank have been exhausted, and as soon as this occurs a second abruptmovement will take place and the tank will be instantly elevated, againoperating'the valves.

The two valves and 31 are so arranged that when one is opened the otheris closed, and these valves control the flow of water from the tanks 10and 11 to a pipe 32, that leads toward the tank. The pipe 32 isconnected to the lower portion of the tank 11 by a pipe 33, having twoswing-joints 34 and 35 to permit vertical movement of the tank withoutinterfering with the flow of water therefrom, and at a point above thepipe 33 is arranged a rock-shaft 36, that may be supported in suitablebearings in the frame. (Not shown.) To this rock-shaft is secured a pairof bell-crank levers 37, the longer arms of which are provided withslots 38 for the reception of pins 39, projecting from the sides of thetank 11. The shorter arms of the bell-crank lever form supports for arod 40, that is connected by rods or links 41 42 to the stems of thevalves 30 and 31, the arrangement being such that when the tank 11 is inelevated position and being filled with water the valve 31 will beclosed and water will be flowing-from tank 10 to the pipe 32 through theopen valve 30. When the tank 11 is filled and in the depressed position,valve 31 is opened and valve 30 is closed, the object, as before stated,being to first utilize all of the water resulting from condensed steamand then to use water from the tank 10 as re quired.

Arranged in a horizontal plane below the pipe 32 are two measuring-tanks44 and 45, which are connected by a pipe-46 to the pipe 32, and in saidpipe 46 are two valves 47 and 48, one controlling the flow of water tothe tank 44 and the other the flow to the tank 45. When one of thesevalves is opened, the other is closed.

In a horizontal plane below the two tanks 44 and is arranged a standard50, to which is pivoted a beam 51, the two arms of which are disposedobliquely to each other and are connected by a tension-bar 52, carryingan,

plane the weight in descending will cause the beam to move quickly andwithout hesitation or oscillation.

To the opposite arms of the beam 51 are pivoted bails 53, on which aresuspended vertically-movable tanks 54 and 55, said tanks being movablein vertical planes, and when in .the lowest position the bottom of eachtank will be approximately in the horizontal plane of the water-level ofthe boiler. These tanks are provided with upwardly-extending tubes 55and 56, which may be provided with stuffing-boxes, and fittingtelescopically in these tubes are pipes 57 and 58, respectively, theupper ends of said pipes being connected to the tanks 44 and 45,respectively. In the pipe 57 is a valve 59, and in the pipe 58 is avalve 60, these valves being movable longitudinally to open position,and while one is opened to permit the passage of water from its elevatedtank to the suspended tank the other is closed. From the lower ends ofthe tanks 54 and 55 lead pipe-sections 61, that fit telescopically intotubes 62 and 63, which may also be provided with stuffingboxes, andthese tubes are connected by a pipe 64, from the center of which leads apipe 65 to the boiler, the point of connection with the boiler beingbelow the water-line thereof. The pipe 64 contains two Valves 66 and 67,and when one of these valves is opened the other is closed.

Leading from the steam-dome of the boiler is a pipe 70, that isconnected to a pipe 71, the opposite ends of which are connected to thepipes 57 and 58, and in said pipe 71 are two valves 73 and 74, that areso arranged that when one is opened the other is closed.

In the lower portion of each of the movable tanks 54 and 55 is a float76, secured to one end of a rock shaft 77, that extends out through astufling-box 78 on the side of the tank, and to the outer ends of theseshafts are secured catches 79 and 80, respectively, said catches beingarranged to engage shoulders 81 and 82, carried by a frame that issupported by the standard 50. These catches are so arranged that whenone of the tanks descends the catch will engage against one of theshoulders and will hold the tank in the depressed position so long asthere is sufficient water in the tank to elevate the float. When thewater-level lowers, the float descends and the catch moves fromengagement with the shoulder, allowing the tank to ascend to refillingposition.

Each of the measuring-tanks 44 and 45 is arranged to hold a certainquantity of water, and when this quantity has been supplied thefloat-valve 84 in the upper portion of the tank closes the supply-pipeand prevents the entrance of further water, so that by counting thenumber of operations the quantity of water supplied to the boiler may bedetermined.

The vertically-movable tanks 44 and 45 are 1 provided with air-cocks 85and 86, respec- IIO "tively, and the stems of these cocks areprotherefore closed, while valve 30 is open and water is flowing fromthe tank 10 through pipe 32 and pipe 46. Valve 47 is open and valve 48is closed, so that the water flows into the tank 44 and will continue toflow thereinto until the supply is cut off by the floatvalve 84. At thistime valve 59, leading from the tank 44, is closed, and valve 66,leading from the vertically-movable tank 54, is open,

so that tank 54 is in communication with the 1 At this time the catch 79of tank 44 is engaged with the shoulder 81, so that the tank is lockedin depressed position and will boiler.

be held in the depressed position so long as any water remains therein.When the water runs from the tank into the boiler, the float 76 willdescend, and catch 79 will be withdrawn from the shoulder 81 in order toallow tank 54 to ascend. During this operation the steam-valve 56 isopen in order that the steampressure on the water of the tank 54 may beequal to the boiler-pressure, and at the same time air-cock 85 is closedtopreventthe escape of any steam or water at that point. 1

On the opposite side valve 48 is closed, while valve is open and valve74 is closed, so that water is flowing from the tank 45 to the tank 55,while the entrance of steam to the tank 55 is prevented. The air in thetank 55 may freely escape through the air-cock 86; but said tank cannotdescend until the catch 79 leaves the shoulder 81. When the catch 79moves to release position, the superior weight of the tank 55 causes thelatter to move down and elevates the now empty tank 54. The tank 54carries with it a rod 90, having two slots 91 92 for the reception ofthe ends of levers 93 94, that are connected to the valves 59 and 47,respectively, and valve-lever 93 is further connected by a link 94' to alever 95 on the steam-valve 73. The upward movement of tank 54 thereforemoves the ends of the slots 91 and 92 into engagement with the levers 93and 94. The first result of this operation will be to close thesteam-valve 73, then to open the valve 59, close the valve 47, and allowthe water to flow from the tank 44 into the verti- Cally-movable tank54, any steam which may remain in the tank 54 being condensed by theentering water and serving to heat the same. The final movement resultsin the opening of the air-cock 85, so that the water may flow freely.into the tank 54, while the air exhausts through the air-cock, and atthe same time,

Valve 47 being closed, a fresh supply of water cannot enter themeasuring-tank 44 until all of the contents of said measuring-tank havebeen deposited in the movable tank 54. The descent of the measuring-tank55 moves the counterpoise 53 toward and finally over the vertical planeof the pivot of beam 51, and after passing beyond such vertical planethe movement of the beam is accelerated. The downward movement of thetank'55 closes the air-cock 86, and a valve-operating rod 98, carried bysaid tank, will engage a lever 99 on valve 60, moving the same to closedposition, and will also engage a lever'100 on the valve 48, moving saidvalve to open position to permit refilling of the measuring-tank 45. Thelever 99 is connected by a link 101 to a lever 102 on the steam-valve74, so that steam is allowed to flow into the tank 55. This downwardmovement of the tank 55 further opens the valve 67 through the medium ofa rod 102 and lever 103, and the corresponding upward movement of thetank 54 closes the valve 66 through the medium of a rod 104 and lever105. The catch 80 of the measuring-tank 55 now passes underlocking-shoulder 82, and the tank 55 is locked in its depressed positionand the water from said tank flows by gravity into the steam-boiler.This operation is repeated as quickly as the water in the boiler isevaporated, and as the water-level in either of the tanks lowers thefloat in said tank will descend and the tank will be unlocked andallowed to reassume filling position.

For the purpose of soundingan alarm in case of low water a branch pipe108 leads from the pipe 65 to a casing 109 containing water, whichfollows the water-level of the boiler. From the top of this casingextends a pipe 110, at the top of which is a steamwhistle 111, and inthe pipe is a valve 112, serving to close communication between saidpipe 110 and a pipe 113, that forms a branch communication from thesteam-pipe70. When the water-level lowers to a dangerous degree, valve112 is opened and the steam flows through pipe 1 13 and pipe 110 to thewhistle and sounds an alarm.

In the operation of the air-cock, as hereinbefore pointed out, it isessential that the cock be opened at the completion of the upwardmovement after the remaining valves have been operated and that it beclosed at the beginning of the downward movement before any of thevalves have been operated. For this purpose the arm 89, hereinbeforereferred to, is provided with a stationary pin 120 near its upper end,with which the valve-arm engages at or near the limit of upwardmovecock; but on upward movement of said valveoperating lever the latterwill engage the inclined face of the finger 121 and will force the sameinward to inoperative position until the lever has passed beyond thesame. The construction of this device-is fully illustrated in Fig. 7.

With a device constructed in accordance with this invention it ispossible to fill cold boilers and to automatically maintain a constantwater-level in boilers already in use. The device is at the same time ofthe utmost value in determining the quantity of water evaporated in agiven time and may be employed for testing purposes where data of thisnature are required.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In awater-feeding apparatus, a collecting-tank for receiving the water ofcondensation, a float-controlled valve for governing the discharge ofwater from the tank, an elevated tank suspended above the level of theboiler and to which the water is conveyed from the collecting-tank understeam-pressure, an auxiliary source of water-supply, and a valvemechanism under the control of the suspended tank for permitting theflow of water therefrom in the direction of the boiler, so long as thesupply in said tank is sufficient for the purpose, and for cutting ofl'the tank and opening communication with the auxiliary source of supplywhen additional water is required.

2. In a water-feeding apparatus for boilers, a vertically-movablecounterweighted tank arranged to receive the water of condensation froma heating system or the like, an auxiliary source of water-supply, apiping system leading from the tank and said auxiliary source of supplyto the direction of the boiler to be fed, and valves under the controlof said movable tank for cutting off the flow from the tank while thelatter is elevated, and establishing communication between the auxiliarysource and the piping system during the same period and for cutting offthe auxiliary source and opening the outlet from the tank when thelatter is depressed.

3. In a water-feeding apparatus for boilers, a suspended tank, acounterweight for maintaining said tank in elevated position when empty,said tank being arranged to receive water of condensation from a heatingor power system, an auxiliary source of water-supply, feed-pipes leadingfrom the tank and the auxiliary source toward the boiler, valvesdisposed in said pipes, a rock-shaft, bell-crank levers carried by therock-shaft, means for connecting the longer arms of the levers to thesuspended tank, a cross-bar carried by the shorter arms of the levers,and means for connecting said cross-bar to the valves, the connectionsbeing arranged to close the valve controlling the flow from the tank,and open the valve leading from the auxiliary source when the tank iselevated, and vice versa..

4. In apparatus of the class described, a suspended tank, acounterweight for maintaining the same in elevated position when empty,a supply-pipe for returningwater of condensation to said tank, and acasing arranged at the discharge end of the pipe and provided with portsforming a tortuous passage for the water, and serving to break the forceof the stream issuing from the pipe.

5. In a boiler-feeding apparatus, a suspended tank having a valvedwater-inlet and a valved water-outlet, the latter communicating with theboiler at a point below the water-line thereof, a valved steamconnection between the steam-space of the boiler and the tank, anair-cock on said tank, and means operable on the descent of the-tank forclosing the waterinlet, closing the air-cock, opening the steaminlet,and opening the water-outlet, and serving on the ascent of the tank toclose the wateroutlet, close the steam-inlet, open the waterinlet andopen the air-cock.

6. In a boiler-feeder, a suspended tank having a valved water-inlet anda valved water outlet, the latter communicating with the boiler at apoint below the water-line thereof, a valved steam connection betweenthe steamspace of the boiler and the tank, an air-cock on the tank,means under the control of the tank for opening and closing the severalvalves, and a float-operated catch carried by the tank and serving toretain the latter in depressed position until empty.

7 In a boiler-feeder, a suspended tank having valved water-supply andboiler connections operable automatically on movement of the tank inboth directions, and an automatic means for locking the tank in itslowest posi tion until empty.

8. In a boiler-feeder, a vertically-movable tank having a valvedwater-inlet, and valved boiler connections operable automatically onmovement of the tank, and a float-controlled catch for retaining saidtank in its lowest position until empty.

9. In a boiler-feeder, a vertically-movable tank having a valvedwater-inlet and valved boiler connections operable automatically onmovement of the tank in both directions, a catch for retaining said tankin its lowest position during the flow of water from the tank to theboiler, and a float connected to the catch, said float moving downwardas the water discharges from the tank and serving to release the catchwhen the tank is empty.

10. In a boiler-feeder, a vertically-movable tank having telescopicconnections with valved water inlet and discharge pipes, a valved steamconnection also leading to the tank, an aircock, and a valve-operatingmeans operable on the descent of the tank for first closing theair-cock, then closing the water-inlet valve and opening the steam-inletvalve and wateroutlet valve, and serving, also, on movement in a reversedirection for closing the steamvalve and water outlet valve, opening thewater-inlet valve, and finally opening the aircock. I

11. In a boiler-feeder, a vertically-movable tank having a valvedwater-inlet, a valved water-outlet, anda valved steam connection,

the two tanks, a valved connection between the vertically-movable tankand the boiler, a valved steam connection between the steamspace of theboiler and the vertically-movable tank, and an automatic valve-operatingmeans serving when the tank ascends to close communication with theboiler and open communication with the measuring-tank, and serving,also. when the tank descends to close communication with themeasuring-tank and open communication with the boiler.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HEBBER S. CORBITT,

Witnesses:

J. E. WILLIAMS, A. T. MOORE.

